The US military, working with its local partners in northern Syria, is making steady progress in rolling back the Islamic State, also known as ISIS. While the fight is ongoing, the extremists have lost significant territory, and the flow of foreign fighters to join its ranks has vastly decreased. You can read more here.

However, the local population has suffered immensely. The Syrian cities of Kobani, home to some of the US military’s strongest local partners in the campaign against the Islamic State, has been largely reduced to rubble. In January of 2015, Kobani withstood a four and half months siege by the Islamic State. About 70 percent of the city was destroyed in the assault, which was the first time the Islamic State was repulsed in an effort to take over a major city. Since then, the city of Kobani earned worldwide recognition for its resistance of the Jihadists.

A family’s home turned to rubble in Kobani, Syria (Photo courtesy of TIME)

While the local government officials are doing their best to meet the needs of the population, basic services like health and education have been severely impacted by the fighting. In particular, the US Army civil affairs planner in the region told Spirit of America that the local school urgently requires education resources including student desks, education supplies for low-income children, teaching aids, English library books, a staff computer and printer, and classroom ceiling fans to temper the spring heat. In short, the Hogir School in Kobani city center requires urgent support to continue providing a quality education to the more than 1,500 boys and girls who attend it. Education is key towards long-term peace and stability in the region.

Help improve education in northern Syria and demonstrate a commitment to one of the United States’ best partners in the fight against the Islamic State.